Candied Quince

Quinces have got to be one of Mother Nature's craziest inventions. They're a relative of apples and pears, but they need to be cooked before they can be enjoyed. From the outside they look like mild-mannered, slightly bulbous green apples, but once simmered for an extended period, their white flesh turns a vivid rose color. And their flavor! Reminiscent of apples and pears, but with lovely floral and spiced notes mixed in.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy this mixed-up fruit is to make Candied Quince. This simple recipe poaches quince slices in a clove-infused sugar syrup for several hours, until they are extremely flavorful, beautifully colored, and have an almost jellied texture. The resulting fruit chunks are marvelous on their own, but they also make a great ice cream topping or pastry filling.
Candied Quince Photo ©2009 Elizabeth LaBau, licensed to About.com, Inc.